Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsatel’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; intense golden orange-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Zalsatel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Zalsatel’.

The new Alstroemeria is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria cultivarswith desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive foliage and flowercoloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands in April, 2000, of a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 97561-7PN, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeriahybrida selection identified as code number 97915-4PN, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Zalsatel was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Hillegom,The Netherlands in June, 2001.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria by root divisions in acontrolled environment in Hillegom, The Netherlands since September,2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Zalsatel has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsatel’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Zalsatel’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Intense golden orange-colored flowers.    -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the parentselections. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of theparent cultivars primarily in flower color and stem length.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of theAlstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsasenan, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 15,274. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of thecultivar Zalsasenan primarily in flower color as plants of the cultivarZalsasenan had yellow-colored flowers. In addition, plants of the newAlstroemeria had shorter flowering stems then plants of the cultivarZalsasenan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Alstroemeria. The photograph comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsatel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown inRijsenhout, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse in groundbeds. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from15° C. to 20° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C. andlight levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph anddescription were about one year-old. The photograph and the descriptionwere taken during the spring. Color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida cultivar Zalsatel.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 97561-7PN, not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 97915-4PN, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By root divisions.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; white, close to            155D, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 cm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.            Color: Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy appearance.            Vigorous growth habit.        -   Time from planting to harvest of cut flowers.—About 80 to 90            days.        -   Number of flowering stems produced per year.—About 220 to            260.        -   Plant height.—About 90 cm to 170 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm to 30 cm.-   Flowering stem description:    -   -   Aspect.—Erect.        -   Length.—About 1.5 meters.        -   Diameter.—About 6 mm to 10 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to 138B; longitudinal stripes, 185A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical; sessile.        -   Length.—About 15 cm to 19 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing and fully developed foliage, upper            surface: Close to 136A; venation, similar to lamina.            Developing and fully developed foliage, lower surface: Close            to 136B; venation, similar to lamina.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels. Perianth segments separate. Freely and            continuously flowering. Flowers not persistent.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the            spring in The Netherlands.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four weeks.        -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About 12 to 16 days.        -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:            Yellowish.        -   Umbel height.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 20 cm to 25 cm.        -   Number of flowers per umbel.—About 15 to 20.        -   Flower length (height).—About 5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, outer            perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6 cm to 7 cm.            Width, lateral segments: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Length,            median segment: About 6.5 cm to 7 cm. Width, median segment:            About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Size, inner perianth: Length, lateral            segments: About 6 cm to 7 cm. Width, lateral segments: About            1.5 cm. Length, medium segment: About 5 cm to 6 cm. Width,            median segment: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape, outer perianth,            lateral and median segments: Obovate. Shape, inner perianth,            lateral and median segments: Oblanceolate. Apex, outer            perianth, lateral and median segments: Emarginate. Apex,            inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Acute. Base,            outer and inner perianths, lateral and median segments:            Attenuate. Margin, outer and inner perianths, lateral and            median segments: Entire; weakly undulate. Texture, outer and            inner perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, outer perianth: When opening and fully            opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 14A;            towards the apex, close to 44C; apex, greenish; few stripes,            purplish, close to 187A. When opening and fully opened,            lateral segments, lower surface: Close to 14A; towards the            apex and base, close to 44C; apex and venation, greenish.            When opening and fully opened, median segment, upper            surface: Close to 14A; towards the apex, close to 44C; apex,            greenish; few stripes, purplish, close to 187A. When opening            and fully opened, median segment, lower surface: Close to            14A; towards the apex and base, close to 44C; apex and            venation, greenish. Color, inner perianth: When opening and            fully opened, lateral segments, upper surface: 14A; towards            the apex, 44C; numerous stripes, purplish, close to 187A.            When opening and fully opened, lateral segments, lower            surface: 14A; towards the apex and base, close to 44C;            midvein, greenish. When opening and fully opened, median            segment, upper surface: 14A; towards the apex, 44C; few            stripes, purplish, close to 187A. When opening and fully            opened, median segment, lower surface: 14A; towards the            apex, 44C; midvein, greenish.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm to 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 20° C. from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 138B;            longitudinal stripes, 185A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Anther shape: Elliptical. Anther length: About 9 mm. Anther            diameter: About 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 22A with very            small maroon-colored spots. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 21B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Style length: About 4.5 cm to 5.5 cm. Style color: Orange.            Stigma color: Faint orange. Ovary color: Close to 143C.        -   Fruit.—Shape: Globular. Color: Brownish.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Alstroemeria.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C.

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatel’ as illustratedand described.